Safety valve



Feb. '10. 1925. I W. E. FLOYD ET AL SAFETY VALVE Filed March 11, 1922 Patented Feb. 10, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. FLOYD, ABE WILLIAMS, AND FRENCH E. GOBSEY, OF BLUEFIELD, WEST VIRGINIA; SAID WILLIAM E. FLOYD ASSIG-NOB. OF HIS RIGHT TO SAID WILLIAMS AND conssv.

EAFETY VALVE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WiLLIAw E. FLOYD, Ann WILLIAMS, and FRENCH E. Goosnr, citi- Zens of the United States, and residents of Bluefield, West Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Safety Valves, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to safety valves of the type employed in steam boilers, and more particularly to the type of safety valves designed to prevent the escape of steam or hot water should any portion of the valve, disposed exteriorly of theboiler, he accidentally disrupted or broken off.

A steam boiler, whether of the locomotive, stationary or marine type, is provided with connections to gages, indicators, etc. It frequently happens, because of'accident, or defectiveand worn parts, that these connections are broken or disrupted, thus permitting the steam and hot water to escape and scald the operatives. In a U. S. patent to William E. Floyd,.No. 1,411,483, has been disclosedmeans whereby such destroyed connections will be closed by the fluid-pressure of the boiler. In this disclosure, a plurality of radially dispose-d openings were provided in a tubular valve housing, in order that a gage cock might be inserted in said housing in such a position that the cock would discharge downwardly when opened. The number ofthese radial openings was such I that the valve housing was materially weakened at this point. Ifthe housing were accidentally struck or subjected to unusual strains for any reason, fracture was likely to occur adjacent the openings instead of occurring at a point approximately in the plane of abutment of the two valve stems.

Such a fracture might result in the jamming.

of the outer valve stem against the inner valve stem, thus preventing the inner valve from being seated by the fluid pressure of the boiler, and permitting the escape of steam and hot water.

An object of this invention is to provide means whereby an outer valve housing may be secured in axial alinement with an inner valve housing in such a manner that the outer housing will not have to be rotated when assembling these parts. The necessity for more than one gage-cock opening in the outer valve housing, to insure that the gagecock will be disposed in a position to dis charge downwardly, is thus avoided.

In the patent to Floyd, referred to above, the outer valve housing was screwed into th inner housing in such a manner that the operative, in making this connection, had no way of knowing the proper longitudinal positions for these two members. Thus, if the outer housing were not screwed into the inner housing the proper distance, the outer valve stem might not be movable inwardly a sufficient distance to unseat th inner valve properly. Another object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means whereby the outer valve housing is secured to the inner housing in one predetermined and invariable position.

Further objects of this invention are to provide an axially bored plug, adapted to be inserted in one end of the inner housing, having a groove formed in one end thereof, said groove being so disposed that pressure, tending to seat the inner valve, will always be admitted to said valve; to provide a groove in such a position on the inner valve housing that any fracture in the valve structure, exteriorly of the boiler wall, will occur approximately in the plane of engagement of the inner valve stem with the outer valve stemwhen th inner valve is seated; and to provide a construction which. enables shortening of the valve to a considerable extent.

The inventive idea set forth herein is capable of being embodied in a variety of mechanical structures, two of which, for the purpose of illustrating the inventive idea, are shown in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be expressly understood that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not designed to define the limits of this invention, reference being had to the appended claims for this purpose.

In said drawings,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the safety valve embodying our invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal view, partly in section, of another embodiment of the invention.

In the form shown in Fig. 1, an inner valve housing 10, of any suitable size and proportions, and having an axial passage 11 extending therethrough, is adapted to be screwed into the Wall 12 of the boiler.

Preferably, a flange or shoulder 13, suitably formed to be engaged by a turning wrench, is provided adjacent one end or said housing, and when the housing is properly secured in place, said'shoulder abuts against the wall 12. The axial passage 11 is enlarged at the opposite ends thereof to form chambers 1 1 and 15, the walls otchamber being threaded tor a purpose to be hereinafter described. Fitted into passage 11, between chambers 14 and 15, is a hollow bushing 1:; of steel or any other suitable material, one end of said bushing being properlv flanges to form a valve seat 1?. Into this bushing extends a valve 18, exposed to fluid pressure from the boiler, said valve being of such size that any'tluid entering chamber 15 can pass around the same and enter spiral grooves 19, formed in the bushing 16 or the stem 20 of said valve, when the latter is not seated. It the grooves are formed in stem 20, the pressure of fluid passing through the spiral grooves will rotate the valve, thus preventing sediment from settling in chamber 15 and the grooves to clog the seating action of said valve.

To prevent accidental dislodgment of valve 18- into the boiler, a plug or cap 21, having an annular shoulder 21, is removably secured in the threaded end of the inner housing 10. Plug 21 is preferably provided with a longitudinal passage or opening 22 to admit fluid from the boiler into chamber 15, and one or more suitable grooves 23 are provided in the end of plug 21, adjacent said valve. It, for any reason, the face of valve 18 should stick to the grooved end of plug 21, the groove or grooves will permit steam to enter chamber 15, pass through grooves 19, and rotate said valve, whereby the latter will be acted upon by the fluid pressure to close passage 11, unless the valve is hold all its seat in a manner to be hereinafter described. H desirable, a similar groove 24; may be provided in the lace of the valve. Valve stem 20, is reduced in diameter, adjacent the valve, as at 25, to form a clearance to the ends of spiral grooves 19.

The wall of chamber let is suitably formed to receive the inner end of an outer valve housing or casing 26. In the form shown, the end of this casing is conically formed to engage a similar surface in the walls of chamber 14, and is provided with a shoulder 2'? tor a purpose to be hereinafter described. An axial passage 28 extends through said casing and, adjacent one end thereof, is formed the valve seat 30. Open ing into the axial passage 28 is a radially disposed, threaded opening 31 adapted to receive a gage-cock 32.

The outer end, of casing 26 is threaded asv at 83 to receive ,thebonnet 34 having a threaded bore 35 in axial alinemeiit with the passage or bore extending through the casing. Passing through the bore of the bonnet, and in threaded engagement there with, is a spindle 36 having formed near one end thereol the valve surface 38, adapted to enact with the valve seat 30. Any suitable nieans, as a hand-wheel may be provided for turning the spindle. Suitable steam packing 40 may be inserted between bonmt 3 and casing 26 to prevent leakage past spindle 36.

Secured in any convenient manner to the inner end of spindle 36 is the rod or spindle extension 11 which extends through chamber 14 and abuts against the end of? valve stem 20. The rod or spindle extension, which, may be round, or of any other suitable shape in cross-section, is thus disposed in such a manner that valve 18 may beheld ofi its seat against the boiler pressure whenever it is desirable to do so, as when open ing gage-cock 32 to test the boiler.

Any suitable means may be, provided for maintaining inner housing 10 and outer housing or casing 26 in axial alinoment. In order to avoid the necessity for revolvingcasing .26 and .to insure. that gage-cock 32 will be disposed in a position to discharge downwardly, or in any other desired direction, there is preferably used a coupling member or nut 41-2 which is interiorly threaded for coaction with exterior threads on the inner housing 10 and provided witlra shoulder 43 adapted to engage shoulder 27 formed adjacent the end of. casing 26 It will be perceived that, when nut 42 is properly positioned to form a tightjoint between the inner and outer housings, the outer housing or casing will be in a fixed, predetermined position with respect to the inner housing.

Should the operative desire to test the height oi water in his boiler, spindle 38 is turned to unseat valve 38, thereby connecting passages 28 and 31. This outward movement of the spindle is not sufficient to permit the seating of valve 18. Fluid from the boiler passes through opening 22, chamlJQt-l5, grooves 19, chamber 14, and thence through passage 28 and radial opening 81 to the gage-cock 32. With the gage-cock in good condition and normally closed, valve 38 may be left unseated so that the operative can try the boiler at any time simply by opening the gage-cock.

Normally, valve 18 is held unseated by the proper adjustment of spindle 36 and extension ll. Should the portion of the safety valve, disposed exteriorly of the boiler, be struck an accidental blow of suflicient force, a rupture or break would occur intermediate of shoulder 13 and nut 42, at ll, thus ensuring that spindle 36 will be carried away and valve 18 will be seated by boiler pressure to' prevent the escape of steanr and hot-water. Inner housing 10 is so positioned, interiorly of the boiler, that it is protected against injury as long as the boiler wall remains intact.

I11 Fig. 2 is shown another embodiment of the invention wherein the walls of chamber 14 are formed in a threaded member 45, instead of being formed integrally with the inner housing 10. Member 45, which is preferably threaded into the inner housing as at 46, is provided with an annular groove 47 of suflicient depth to insure that any fracture in the structure, resulting from an accidental blow of sufiicient force, will occur at this point. A similar groove is provided, for the same reason, as at 44, in the structure illustrated in Fig. 1. Any danger of stem 41 jamming against valve stem 20, due to accidental rupture of the device, is thereby avoided. The remainder of the construction illustrated in Fig. 2 is identical with that illustrated in Fig. 1.

It will thus be perceived that there has been provided a safety valve comprising an inner and outer housing which may be secured in axial alinementwithout revolving the outer housing, thus avoiding the necessity for a plurality of radial openings in said outer housing to insure that the gagecock will discharge downwardly or in any other desired direction. There has also been provided a valve the outer portion of which, if subjected to a blow of sufficient force to disrupt the same, will break at a point such that the outer valve stem will not am against the inner valve and prevent the latter from seating. The construction is such that the operative can secure the inner and outer housings in axial alinement in one fixed and predetermined position; furthermore, the length of that portion of the structure disposed exteriorly of the boiler is materially reduced.

While two embodiments of the inventive idea have been described herein'with considerable particularity and detail, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not limited thereto, as the same is capable of a variety of expressions, some of which will readily suggest themselves 'to those skilled in the art, while certain features thereof are capable of use without other features thereof. Reference is therefore to be had to the claims hereto appended for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is 1. In a safety valve, the combination of an outer housing having a valve seat formed interiorly thereof, a main valve in said housing adapted to engage said seat, an inner housing having an axial passage therethrough and adapted to be threaded into the wall of a boiler and having a weakening annular groove exterior to the boiler, a valve disposed entirely within said inner housing therethrough and adapted to be threaded into the wall of a boiler and having a weakenmg annular groove exterior to the boiler, a valve adapted to close said passage and disposed entirely within said housing, an

outer housing having a valve seat therein, a main valve within said outer housing adapted to engage the seat therein, the stem of said main valve being adapted to normally hold the inner valve off of its seat, means engaging a shoulder on the outer housing and a threaded portion on the inner housing adjacent to said groove for maintaining said outer housing in axial alinement with said inner housing, and a radially disposed opening in said outer housing.

3. In a safety valve, the combination of an inner housing having an axial passage therethrough and adapted to be threaded into the wall of a boiler and having a weakening annular groove exterior to the boiler, a tubular bushing in said housing and having a valve seat therein, a valve extending into said bushing, an outer housing having a shoulder thereon and a main valve seat therein. means engaging said shoulder for maintaining the outer housing in axial alinement with said inner housing, and a valve movably mounted in said outer housing, the stem of said last-named valve being adapted to normally engage the stem of said firstnamed valve in a plane between said groove and said first-named valve and maintain the latter in open position.

4. In a safety valve, the combination of an inner housing adapted to be threaded into a wall of a boiler and having an axial passage therethrough, a valve positioned entirely within said housing and adapted to close said passage, an outer housing having a valve seat therein, a valve positioned within said outer housing adapted to engage said seat, the stem of said last-named valve being adapted to engage the stem of said firstnamed valve and normally maintain the latterin open position. and a coupling member for maintaining said housings in axial alinement, said inner housing having a groove formed exteriorly thereof approximately in the plane of engagement of said valve stems when the inner valve is seated.

5. In a safety valve the combination of an inner housin having an axial passage and adapted to be threaded into a wall of a boiler, a valve adapted to close said passage disposed within said housing, a member threaded into said housing and having a conical seat in one end thereof, an outer housing having a conical portion adapted to engage said seat and having a main valve seat formed interiorly thereof, a main valve within said outer housing having a stem extending through said member and adapted to engage said first-named valve, and means engaging said member and outer housing for forcing the conical portion of the latter onto the conical seat of the member.

6. In a safety valve, the combination of an outer housing having a valve seat formed interiorly thereof, a main valve in said housing adapted to engage said seat, an inner housing having an axial passage therethrough and having a weakening annular groove therein, a valve disposed Within said inner housing adapted to close said passage, said last named valve being normally held in unseated position by engagement with said main valve, an axially bored plug having a groove in the inner end thereof removably mounted in the inner housing, and a coupling member engaging said inner and outer housings for maintaining said housings in axial alignment.

In testimony whereof, we have signed this specification.

WILLIAM E. FLOYD. ABE WILLIAMS. FRENCH E. GODSEY. 

